An Educator’s Advice for the 116th Congress

The freshman class of United States legislators faces monumental labor challenges, ranging from industries deeply disrupted by artificial intelligence and automation to the urgent cybersecurity challenges threatening individuals and companies. It is critically important this 116th Congress works together to find solutions to our national labor and skills challenges and ensures students nationwide are prepared with the skills to carry them into the future.

Fortunately, there is reason for all of us to be optimistic. Nine incoming congressional leaders with representation across parties and chambers have backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), which they can leverage for insights and guidance. Each of these leaders — along with the returning surgeons, physicists, engineers, and mathematicians who serve in Congress — should consider how a STEM background makes their perspective unique. The opportunities for a career in STEM continue to grow, and in an economy that is increasingly defined by automation and technology, their significance multiplies. With the problem-solving and collaborative skills gained in STEM, it’s crucial every elected official use their position to advance opportunity in these fields for all students.

In the White House’s Committee on STEM Education Advisory Panel strategy — released in December and to which I had the honor of contributing — a team of bipartisan experts called for a renewed focus on STEM in education to help our country reclaim an edge over other countries that has eroded in recent years. Our leaders must clear a path through forward-looking policies that empower every student to pursue their potential in high-growth, high-demand careers. Congress must now look to the strategy as a blueprint for its efforts in 2019, including:

· Refreshing federal laws that govern the entire post-secondary education landscape to rethink how we train the professionals tasked with teaching our students. A more effective system would emphasize proven methodologies in teacher preparation and professional development, such as project-based learning, to maximize learning through practical and contextualized experiences.

· Ensuring the Department of Education empowers states to establish partnerships between PreK-12 schools, community organizations, and local employers through work-based learning, such as internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, and simulated workplace environments. Congress has an important role to play in ensuring legislation such as the  Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act achieves its intended goal of preparing students for success in careers and as individuals.

· Empowering PreK-12 schools nationwide with the resources and federal support needed to foster access to high-quality education for every student, irrespective of socioeconomic background. Congress must demonstrate support for educators doing the important work of educating our students by investing in them professionally and in the schools for which they work.

It is the duty of STEM-literate leaders to apply their perspective to the policymaking realm — and make an impact on our students’ futures. In an increasingly automated world, they have insight about the realities of technology in the workforce and the transportable skills needed to apply that technology. These Members of Congress have an obligation to apply those insights in public policies that will strengthen American talent pipelines for these fields. As we continue to engineer solutions for our future, their experiences can speak to the policies necessary to bring them to life.